Means for separating fibers from bast plants



4 March 2, 1937;

JIHLGILLESPIE 2,072,749

M BANS'FOR SEPARATING FIERS FROM BAST PLANTS JAMES HAROLD] I GILLESP/E March 2, 1937. q. H. GILLESPIE 2,072,749

MEANS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM B AST PLJANTS v Filed Nov. 28) 19:54 6 y m' JAMESHAROL Gum s/ 1.5

March 2,- 1937. J. H. GILLESPIE I 2,072,749

MEANS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM EAST PLANTS Filed ,Nov. 28, 3.934 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTD JAMEJ HAROLD GILLESP/Zi March 2, 1937.

J H. GILLESPIE MEANS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM 55 m 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 N Filed Nov. 28,-1934 :INVENTQRJ uAMis HAM/ 0 GILLEJPIE March 1937- J. H. GILLESPIE 2,072,749

MEANS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM BAST PLANTS Filed Nov. 28, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INYENTOZ:

2i .J/WES HAROLD GILLESP/tl March 2, 1 3 J.H.GIL', ESPIE 2,012,7 9

MEANS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM BAST PLANTS Filed Nov. 2a, 1954 e Sheet-Sheet s I JAMES Hgxaw GILLE SP/E Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR SEPARATING FIBERS FROM BAST PLANTS James Harold Gillespie, Belfast, Northern Ireland 8 Claims.

relates to machines in which the flax is separated into pieces, or bundles, clamped in holders and traversed intermittently along rising and falling channels, the traversing movements taking place between rising and falling movements of the channels, the object of the invention being to provide improved means for scutching the plants during vertical movement of the channels.

According to my invention I provide a pair, or a plurality of pairs, of fluted rollers, mounted in suitable bearings, with the rollers placed horizontally and longitudinally with reference to the channel in such manner that the flax depending from the clamp or holder passes between the flutes of the pair or pairs of rollers, the scutching action being only allowed to take place during the descent of the flax and not during its ascent.

I may accomplish this in various ways, for example I may mount the rollers on free wheel clutches which permit of the rollers being driven only during the descent of the channel and which disengage the rollers from the drive during the channels ascent, so that the upward movement of the channel reverses the rollers by the pull of the flax; or the direction of revolution of the fluted rollers may be reversed during the ascent of the channel by a suitable reversing means and gears so that the rollers may revolve during the descending period at a suitable scutching speed, and in the reverse direction at a surface speed equal to the ascending speed of the channel during the ascent. Any other suitable means may be used to ensure the scutching operation taking place during the descent only of the channel and flax and not during the ascent.

The flutes on the rollers may be of any suitable shape or pitch and the rollers may be set to engage the flutes at any suitable depth. Preferably the rollers are so set that the flutes of one roller are equally spaced in the spaces between flutes on the other roller, though they may be otherwise set. The rollers may be driven by suitable gears keyed on in position to ensure this equal, or other, spacing.

It will also be understood that the shape of the various roller flutes and their pitch may be suitably varied to allow of more scutching effect as the flax becomes refined during successive descents as it is passed along the channel.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings -wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, on the line l-I Fig. 2, of a flax scutching machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation of a portion of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a complete side elevation to a larger scale of the scutching machine, showing the location of the various rollers and their drives.

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, of a scutching roller showing the free-wheel device which permits of the roller being driven in one direction and not driven in the reverse direction.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line 5-5 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a form of reverse gear in which the scutching rollers are positively driven in a reverse direction at a surface speed corresponding to the speed of the ascending flax.

Fig. '7 is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the machine showing the usual cam drive for the rising and falling holders.

Referring to the drawings:-

In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the flax scutching machine comprises a preliminary combing sheet 3, two pairs of scutching rollers l and la and two pairs of beating rollers 2. (The drive and details of sheet 3 are as usual and are omitted.) The scutching rollers l and la are mounted on spindles 4 and 4a, the spindles 4 being driven from a shaft 5 by means of chain wheels 6 and 6a. and chains 1. The shaft 5 is driven from a shaft 8 through gear wheels 9 and I0 and change wheel ll, the gear wheel l9 being mounted on a carrier l2 to permit of the change wheel I I being substituted by a wheel of larger or smaller diameter. The shaft 8 is driven from a verticalshaft 13 through bevel gears l4 and la, the vertical shaft I3 being driven by means of a shaft l5 through bevel gears l6, Ilia. and I621. The shaft I5 is driven from a main shaft I! through bevel gears l8 and l8a (Fig. 3).

The direction of rotation of the vertical shaft I3 is reversed, in synchronism with the rising and falling channel, by means of a sliding dog clutch I9 slidably keyed on the shaft l5 and adapted to engage teeth |9w and lb on the bevels l6 and l 611, which are loose on the shaft l5. lhe clutchl-Q is moved by means of levers 20 mounted on a horizontal shaft 2|, the shaft 2| being oscillated by means of a face cam 22 through the medium of a two armed lever 23 mounted on the shaft 2!. Rollers or followers 24 and 24a are provided on the lever 23, the rollers bearing on the face of the cam 22. Cam 22 is mounted on shaft 48 driven in conjunction with the shaft I5 from the main shaft II. The contour of the face of the cam 22 is arranged so that the clutch it engages the teeth I9b on the bevel IBbfor a period corresponding to 120 degrees of rotation of the cam 22 thereby rotating the vertical shaft I3 in one direction. The clutch is then disengaged for a period corresponding to 60 degrees of rotation of the cam 22 and then brought into engagement with the teeth I901. on the bevel I5 for a period corresponding to 120 degrees of rotation of the cam 22, thereby driving the vertical shaft I3 in a reverse direction. For the remaining 60 degrees of rotation of the cam 22, the clutch is disengaged. It is to be understood that the periods given are by way of example only and may be varied to suit different circumstances. This series of operations is repeated continuously during the time the machine is in operation.

The scutching rollers I and la are provided with flutes 25 (see Figs 4 and 5) and the rollers Ia are driven from the rollers I through gear Wheels 26 and 21. Each of the gear wheels 25 and 21 is composed of a pair of gear wheels such as 26 and 25a, which are bolted together by means of bolts 28 which pass through arcuate slots 28a in the wheel 25 and screw into the wheel 26w, the arrangement being similar for the wheel 21. The curved slots 280.1 permit of the gear wheels 26 and 21 being moved relatively to each other to adjust the engagement of the flutes 25 in the rollers I and I 11, and/or to take up any undesirable backlash in the gears.

To ensure that the rollers I are driven only in one direction and are free on their spindles in the reverse direction, a ratchet 29 is provided on each of the spindles 4 which are mounted on roller bearings 30. The chain wheels 5a have each a boss 3I provided with spring loaded pawls 32 which engage the teeth on the ratchet 29. The arrangement is such that the chain wheels 6a drive the spindles d in one direction but do not drive them in the reverse direction. The beating rollers 2 are provided with blades 25 and are mounted on spindles (see Fig. 3). The roller pairs 2 are geared together by means of gear wheels similar to those used in connection with the scutching rollers I and Ia, but as distinct from the scutching roller the beating rollers 2 are driven continuously in one direction, that is, with the flax-engaging blades going down, from a shaft 33 through chain wheels 34 and 35a, and chain 35. The flax is suspended from holders 38 mounted in a rising and falling channel 31 of the usual type.

In operation, the main shaft ll rotates the shaft I5 through the bevel gears I8 and I8a. The shaft I5 rotates the clutch I9 slidably keyed thereon, the clutch I9 rotating either of the bevel gears I6 or Nib according as to whether the channel 31 is rising or falling. For example, let it be supposed that it is driving the bevel gear I6 and the channel 3'? is moving down for the scutching operation.

The bevel gear Ifia. is rotated by the bevel gear I6 thereby turning the vertical shaft I3 which in turn rotates the spindle 8 through the bevel gears l4 and I 4a. The change wheel II mounted on the spindle 8 drives the shaft 5 through the gear wheels 9 and III, the scutching rollers I being driven from the shaft 5 through thechain wheels 5 and 6a and chain I at a suitable scutching speed. Just before the channel 31 is about to ascend, the cam 22 oscillates the shaft 2| through the medium of the lever 23, thereby moving the levers 20 which move the clutch I9 out of engagement with the bevel gear I6. When the channel 31 starts to ascend, the cam 22 oscillates the shaft 2I still further, the levers 20 bringing the clutch I9 into engagement with the teeth I95 on the bevel gear I65, thereby rotating the shaft I3 in the reverse direction. The shaft 5 is thereby reversed, but the scutching rollers are not rotated in the reverse direction owing to the free-wheel devices on the spindles 4, consequently there is no scutching action on the flax as the channel ascends, the flax merely pulling the rollers I and laand rotating them in the reverse direction.

In the example shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the reversing motion comprises a vertical shaft I3 driven and reversed as before. The shaft I3 drives the spindle 8 through bevel gears I i and Ida. On the outer end of the spindle 8 is mounted a change wheel I I meshing with a gear wheel ID mounted on a carrier l2 to permit of the diameter of the change wheel II being replaced by a wheel of greater or less diameter. The gear wheel I9 meshes with a gear wheel 9 loosely mounted on the shaft 5. The gear wheel 9 is provided with teeth 9a adapted to engage a dog clutch 38 slidably keyed on the shaft 5. Mounted on the spindle 8 is a gear wheel 39 which meshes with a gear wheel 40 mounted on a spindle 45a, and mounted on the spindleAIla is another gear wheel M which meshes with a gear wheel 42 loosely mounted on the shaft 5. The gear wheel 42 is provided with teeth 42a adapted to engage the clutch 38. The clutch 38 is moved by means of a bell crank 43 operated through a rod 44 by means of a lever 45, mounted on the shaft 2I which is oscillated by the cam 22 as before. The scutching rollers I and lot are driven from the shaft 5 as before, but the free wheel devices are omitted.

The arrangement just described is such that when the channel 31 is descending for the scutching operation, the clutch 38 is in engagement with the teeth So on the gear Wheel 9, therefore the shaft 5 is rotated in the direction for rotating the rollers I and la towards each other at a suitable scutching speed. When the channel 3? starts to ascend, the cam 22 oscillates the shaft 2|, thereby moving the lever 45 which operates the rod 44 and bell crank 43, moving the clutch out of engagement with the teeth 9a and into engagement with the teeth 52a, on the gear wheel 42, thereby changing the gear ratio for the scutching rollers at a surface speed equal to the speed of the ascending flax, the ratio of the gear wheels 39, 4!), il and 42 being such as to provide this speed.

Referring to Fig. 8, 46 denotes the usual well known hackling machine gable, and I! is the lift cam attached to the same shaft 48 to which the cam 22 for controlling the sliding clutch I9 is keyed. The cam ll controls the rise and fall of the channel 3'! by the medium of lever 49, runner 5!], link 5I, disc 52 attached to the top lift shaft 53, lift pulley 54 also attached to the top lift shaft and belt 55 bolted to the rim of the pulley 54 and to the arch 55 which carries the channel 31 along which the flax holders 35 pass during the scutching process. Reference is made to The Textile Industries, by William S. Murphy, published by the Gresham Publishing Company, London, 1910, volume 11, pages 9-11, with regard to the type of structure shown in Fig. 8.

As cams 41 and 22 are both keyed to the same shaft 48, it naturally follows that the cycle of movement of the rise and fall of the channel, and the driving and reversing of the scutching rollers ar synchronized.

I preferably use the well known hackling machine formation for supporting and manipulating the holders, including the well known cross channels with means for screwing and unscrewing, and pull through means for repositioning the flax in the holders for treatment of the other end. In this connection I may feed the holders to the machine in pairs, or use holders of greatly increased length, with the object of increasing the production. Where pairs of holders are used I may provide two unscrewing and screwing spindles instead of one as is the present practice, and located, as usual, on the cross channels connecting the two rising and falling channels, I may also provide, in such cases, two pull through devices at the changing end of the machines for repositioning the flax in the holders, instead of one device only as at present.

It is to be understood that any other suitable construction may be employed for scutching the flax only during its descent.

Although the description has mainly referred to flax, the same operations may be used for any fibrous plant.

I claim:

1. In a machine for obtaining fiber from bast plants including a reciprocable holder for the plants and a pair of rollers having interacting but spaced projections between which the plants are permitted to move lengthwise by the movement of said holder; driving means for the rollers comprising a main driving shaft, two gear trains of diiferent ratios between said shaft and the rollers and clutch means adapted to connect in one or other of said trains in synchronism with the raising and lowering of the holder, the arrangement being that the rollers are driven with a peripheral speed greater than the downward speed of the holder and are rotated in the reverse direction with a peripheral speed equal to the upward speed of the flax.

2. In a machine for obtaining fiber from bast plants including a reciprocable holder for the plants and a pair of rollers having intermeshing flutes between which the plants are permitted to move lengthwise by the movement of said holder; driving means for the rollers comprising a main driving shaft, a reversible gear between the said shaft and the rollers, a unidirectional driving device between said gear and the rollers arranged only to drive the rollers when the holder is descending and means adapted to control said gear in synchronism with the raising and lowering motion of said holder, the arrangement being that the rollers are driven with a peripheral speed greater than the downward speed of the holder and are rotated in the reverse direction merely by the upward withdrawal of the flax.

3. A machine for obtaining fiber from flax straw comprising vertically reciprocable and laterally translatable holders for bunches of the flax, a pair of co-acting fluted rollers between which the bunches are lowered and raised by said holders, driving means for the rollers comprising a main driving shaft, a reversible gear between said shaft and the rollers and a unidirectional driving device between said gear and the rollers arranged only to drive the rollers when the holders are descending, and means adapted to operate said gear in synchronism with the raising and lowering motion of said holders, the arrangement being that the rollers are driven with a peripheral speed considerably greater than the downward speed of the holders and are rotated in the reverse direction merely by the upward withdrawal of the flax, a pair of rotary heating elements in alignment with said first mentioned rollers and between which the flax bunches are also raised and lowered and means for driving said beating elements.

4. In a machine for removing the woody matter from flax including a vertically reciprocable holder for the flax bunches and a pair of co-acting fluted rollers between which the flax bunches are raised and lowered; driving means for one of said rollers comprising a driving shaft, a reversing gear interposed between said roller and said shaft, means for operating said gear in synchronism with the raising and lowering of said bunch, a unidirectional drive-transmitting device between said gear and said roller and gearing interconnecting said roller with the other roller.

5. In a machine for removing the woody matter from flax including a vertically reciprocable holder for the flax bunches and a pair of coacting fluted rollers between which the flax bunches are raised and lowered; driving means for one of said rollers comprising a driving shaft, a double-faced clutch element keyed thereto, a co-operating clutch element at either side of said element, a cam member driven in synchronism with said holders and causing alternate engagement of either face of said clutch, gearing including a change-wheel between said co-operating clutch elements and the driven roller, a unidirectional drive-transmitting device on said driven roller and gearing interconnecting said roller and the other roller.

6. A machine for removing the woody matter from flax straw comprising vertically reciprocable and horizontally translatable holders for bunches of said straw, a pair of rollers having intermeshing flutes between which the flax is lowered and raised by the vertical movement of the holders and driving means for said rollers comprising a driving shaft, a double faced clutch element thereon adapted to engage with either of two clutch elements, a first gear train and a second gear train of different ratios between said driving shaft and said rollers and connected respectively to said two clutch elements and cam means driven in synchronism with the raising and lowering of said holders for engaging said doublefaced clutch element alternately with either of said two clutch elements, the arrangement being that the rollers are driven at a greater speed than the flax when same is descending and are driven in the reverse direction at the same speed as the flax when the same is ascending.

7. A machine for removing the woody matter from flax straw comprising vertically reciprocable and horizontally translatable holders for bunches of said straw, a pair of scutching rollers having intermeshing flutes between which the flax is lowered and raised by the vertical movement of the holders, a pair of rotary members having intermeshing beating elements in lateral alignment with said scutching rollers, and means for driving said members continuously in the one direction, and driving means for said scutching rollers comprising a driving shaft, a double faced element thereon adapted to engage with either of two clutch elements, a normal gear train including a change-wheel and a reverse gear train of different ratios between said driving 75 shaft and said rollers and connected respectively to said two clutch elements and cam means driven in synchronism with the raising and lowering of said holders for engaging said double- 5 faced clutch element alternately with said two clutch elements.

8. For a machine for scutching flax a fluted scutching r011, comprising a spindle, a drive-r ceiving element on one end of the spindle, a gear wheel on the other end of the spindle and an adjustable mounting for said gear wheel whereby the same may be angularly adjusted with reference to the flutes.

JAMES HAROLD GILLESPIE. 

